U.S. patent number 5,236,148 [Application Number 07/740,882] was granted by the patent office on 1993-08-17 for anti-rattle device for thumb button on fishing reel.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Zebco Corporation. Invention is credited to David E. Valentine.
United States Patent |
5,236,148 |
Valentine |
August 17, 1993 |
Anti-rattle device for thumb button on fishing reel
Abstract
A connection between a thumb button and a housing on a fishing
reel. A socket is provided on the housing and has a curved seat. A
pin is provided on the thumb button for reception in the socket and
has a curved surface acting against the curved socket seat to guide
pivoting of the pin in the socket and thereby rotation of the thumb
button about a first axis. A projection is provided extending
radially outwardly from the curved pin surface with respect to the
first axis to take up clearance between the curved pin surface and
the curved socket seat.
Inventors: |
Valentine; David E. (Tulsa,
OK) |
Assignee: |
Zebco Corporation (Tulsa,
OK)
|
Family
ID: |
24978459 |
Appl.
No.: |
07/740,882 |
Filed: |
August 6, 1991 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
242/239;
16/DIG.13; 242/321; 384/125 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A01K
89/0102 (20130101); Y10S 16/13 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A01K
89/01 (20060101); A01K 89/00 (20060101); A01K
089/00 (); F16C 033/02 () |
Field of
Search: |
;242/238,239,240,311,313,321 ;16/227,267,257,337,342,DIG.6,DIG.13
;403/96,116 ;384/125 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Stodola; Daniel P.
Assistant Examiner: Mansen; Michael R.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Wood, Phillips, VanSanten, Hoffman
& Ertel
Claims
I claim:
1. A fishing reel comprising:
a housing;
a line carrying spool;
first means for selectively retrieving line onto the spool with the
fishing reel in a retrieve mode and for allowing line to pay out of
the spool with the fishing reel in a casting mode;
a thumb button;
second means for attaching the thumb button to the housing for
pivoting movement between an undepressed state and a depressed
state; and
cooperating means on the first means and the thumb button for
changing the reel from its retrieve mode to its cast mode as an
incident of the thumb button moving from its undepressed state to
its depressed state,
said second means comprising a cooperating pin and socket one each
on the housing and thumb button,
said socket comprising a curved seat,
said pin having a curved surface that acts against the curved
socket seat to guide rotation of the thumb button about the pin and
a first pivot axis,
said curved socket seat being smoothly curved without interruption
over that portion of the curved socket seat that is engaged by the
projection as the thumb button moves between its undepressed and
depressed states so that the thumb button will move smoothly back
and forth between its undepressed and depressed states,
said pin having a projection radially outwardly relative to the
first pivot axis from the curved pin surface to engage the curved
socket seat and take up clearance between the curved pin surface
and the curved socket seat.
2. The fishing reel according to claim 1 wherein the projection
comprises a flexible fin.
3. The fishing reel according to claim 1 wherein the projection
comprises a piece of plastic.
4. The fishing reel according to claim 1 wherein the thumb button
and projection are integrally formed.
5. The fishing reel according to claim 1 wherein the thumb button
and projection are molded from plastic as a single piece.
6. The fishing reel according to claim 1 wherein the projection has
an elongate configuration taken in cross section at right angles to
the first axis.
7. The fishing reel according to claim 1 wherein the projection has
a rectangular configuration taken in cross section at right angles
to the first axis.
8. The fishing reel according to claim 1 wherein there is a second
pin on the thumb button, said first claimed and second pin
projecting oppositely to each other in cantilever fashion from the
thumb button, said second pin having a curved surface to act
against a second curved socket seat that is similar to the first
claimed curved socket seat, and there is a projection on the second
pin to take up clearance between the second pin and second curved
socket seat.
9. The fishing reel according to claim 1 wherein the flexible
projection comprises a flexible fin integrally formed with the
pin.
10. A connection between a thumb button and housing on a fishing
reel, said connection comprising:
a socket on the housing having a curved seat; and
a pin on the thumb button for reception in the socket and having a
curved surface acting against the curved socket seat to guide
pivoting of the pin in the socket and thereby rotation of the thumb
button about a first axis,
there being a projection radially outwardly relative to the first
axis from the curved pin surface to engage the curved socket seat
and take up clearance between the curved pin surface and the curved
socket seat,
said projection being sufficiently flexible to bend and guide
smooth relative movement between the pin and curved socket
seat.
11. The thumb button and housing connection according to claim 10
wherein the projection comprises a flexible fin.
12. The thumb button and housing connection according to claim 10
wherein the projection comprises a flexible fin that extends in
cantilever fashion from the pin.
13. The thumb button and housing connection according to claim 12
wherein the projection is made from plastic.
14. The thumb button and housing connection according to claim 12
wherein the thumb button and projection are integrally formed.
15. The thumb button and housing connection according to claim 12
wherein the thumb button and projection are molded from plastic as
a single piece.
16. The thumb button and housing connection according to claim 12
wherein the pin has a length extending generally parallel to the
first axis and the fin extends over substantially the entire length
of the pin.
17. The thumb button and housing connection according to claim 12
wherein the projection has an elongate configuration taken in cross
section at right angles to the first axis.
18. The thumb button and housing connection according to claim 12
wherein the projection has a rectangular configuration taken in
cross section at right angles to the first axis.
19. The thumb button and housing connection according to claim 12
wherein there is a second pin on the thumb button, said first
claimed and second pin projecting oppositely to each other in
cantilever fashion from the thumb button, said second pin having a
curved surface to act against a second curved socket seat that is
similar to the first claimed curved socket seat, and there is a
projection on the second pin to take up clearance between the
second pin and second curved socket seat.
20. A fishing reel comprising:
a housing;
a line carrying spool;
first means for selectively retrieving line onto the spool with the
fishing reel in a retrieve mode and for allowing line to pay out of
the spool with the fishing reel in a casting mode;
a thumb button;
second means for attaching the thumb button to the housing for
pivoting movement between an undepressed state and a depressed
state; and
cooperating means on the first means and the thumb button for
changing the reel from its retrieve mode to its casting mode as an
incident of the thumb button moving from its undepressed state to
its depressed state,
said second means comprising a cooperating pin and socket one each
on the housing and thumb button,
said socket comprising a curved seat,
said pin having a peripheral surface that acts against the curved
socket seat to guide rotation of the thumb button about the pin and
a first pivot axis,
said pin having a flexible projection radially outwardly relative
to the first pivot axis from the peripheral surface with respect to
the first pivot axis to engage the curved socket seat and take up
clearance between the curved pin surface and the curved socket
seat,
said flexible projection being elongate in cross section taken
parallel to the first pivot axis to allow it to bend and thereby
sweep along the curved socket seat as the thumb button is moved
between its undepressed and depressed states.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to fishing reels of the type having a
translatable center shaft that is shifted through a pivotable thumb
button and, more particularly, to a connection between the thumb
button and a supporting housing which facilitates smooth pivoting
of the thumb button relative to the housing and avoids rattling
therebetween.
2. Background Art
In conventional spin cast fishing reels, a pivotable thumb button
is employed to place the reel selectively in its casting mode. The
thumb button is typically mounted in an opening at the rear of the
reel housing and, once depressed, shifts a center shaft forwardly,
which in turn moves a spinner head at the distal end of the center
shaft and simultaneously retracts a pick-up pin. The forwardly
shifting spinner head snubs the line against an inside surface of
the housing to allow the rod to be cocked without line payout. The
thumb button is released at the same time the rod is thrust
forwardly so that the line freely uncoils from a spool on which it
is stored.
To facilitate assembly of the thumb button, it is common to use a
snap fit pin and socket connection. Typically, a pin projects in
cantilever fashion oppositely from the sides of the thumb button.
The housing has receptive sockets for the pins. Each socket has a
curved seat defined by bendable legs which are spaced slightly from
each other to define an entryway having a diameter less than the
diameter of the pins. To seat the pins, the pins are forced against
the free ends of the legs which spread sufficiently to allow entry
of the pins. Once the pins are fully seated, the memory in the legs
draws the legs back towards each other to maintain the pins in the
sockets.
Designers of thumb buttons deal with two competing objectives.
First, it is desirable to have a thumb button that is readily
pivotable on the housing. Secondly, it is desirable that the thumb
button be maintained firmly in its undepressed state so that it
does not tend to rattle on the housing. While closely fitting the
pin and socket obviates the latter problem, it aggravates the
former problem. One proposed solution to this has been the
provision of a separate spring, which biases the thumb button to an
undepressed state. Exemplary spring structures are shown in U.S.
Pat. No. 4,415,129, to Neufeld. While the Neufeld structure
eliminates rattling, it requires the assembly of an additional
part, which is undesirable.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is specifically directed to overcoming the
above enumerated problems in a novel and simple manner.
More particularly, the invention is directed to a connection
between a thumb button and a housing on a fishing reel. A socket is
provided on the housing and has a curved seat. A pin is provided on
the thumb button for reception in the socket and has a curved
surface acting against the curved socket seat to guide pivoting of
the pin in the socket and thereby rotation of the thumb button
about a first axis. A projection is provided extending radially
outwardly from the curved pin surface with respect to the first
axis to take up clearance between the curved pin surface and the
curved socket seat.
Preferably, the projection is a flexible fin which sweeps against
the curved socket seat as the thumb button is rotated during
operation. The fin can be configured so that there is unobstructed
movement of the pin in the slot throughout the range of pivoting of
the thumb button.
In one form, the fin is made from plastic. The fin can be
integrally molded with the thumb button pin from plastic.
In a preferred form, the fin extends over substantially the entire
axial extent of the pin.
The fin may take a number of different cross sectional shapes
viewed at right angles to the pivot axis for the thumb button. In
one form, the cross-sectional configuration is rectangular, with
the fin projecting in cantilever fashion from the pin.
In one form of the invention, the thumb button has laterally
spaced, oppositely projecting pins, each with a projection as
described above.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of part of a reel housing
with a thumb button for connection thereto according to the present
invention;
FIG. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary, side elevation view of a pin
and slot connection, according to the present invention, between
the thumb button and reel housing;
FIG. 3 is a plan view of the operatively connected thumb button and
housing of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, side sectional view of a prior art thumb
button operatively connected to a reel housing; and
FIG. 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary, side elevation view of the pin
and slot connection on the reel of FIG. 4.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In FIG. 1, a rear housing part for a spin cast fishing reel is
shown at 10, with a thumb button at 12, according to the present
invention, for operatively engaging within a rear opening 14 in the
housing part 10. The rear housing part 10 has a mounting foot 16
for connection to a fishing rod (not shown) and a cup-shaped,
forwardly opening body 18 defining a receptacle 20 for a reel
operating mechanism, part of which is shown at 22 in FIG. 4.
The reel operating mechanism 22 for an exemplary spin cast fishing
reel is described fully in U.S. Pat. No. 4,415,129, to Neufeld,
which patent is incorporated herein by reference. A brief
description of the reel operation follows solely for purposes of
setting the environment for the invention.
More specifically, with reference to FIG. 4, the reel operating
mechanism consists of a center shaft 24, which is journalled for
rotation in a reel body 26 and shiftable in a fore and aft
direction. A coil spring 28 normally biases the center shaft 24 to
its rearward most position, shown in FIG. 4. At the front, distal
end of the center shaft 24, a spinner head 30 is mounted. The
center shaft 24 and spinner head 30 are rotated by a means 32,
which includes a crank handle (not shown) that is keyed to a pinion
gear 34. Rotation of the center shaft 24 and spinner head 30 causes
a pick-up pin 36 on the spinner head 30 to wrap line onto a
line-carrying spool 38.
Depression of the thumb button 12 effects rotation thereof in a
clockwise direction, indicated by arrow 40 about a laterally
extending pivot axis 42, which causes a depending boss 43 on the
thumb button 12 to engage and shift forwardly the center shaft 24
and attached spinner head 40. This effects a change of the fishing
reel from the retrieve mode of FIG. 4 to the casting mode, wherein
the pick-up pin 36 is retracted and the spinner head 30 is borne
against the inside surface of a front housing (not shown). The cast
is thus effected by cocking the rod with the thumb button 12
depressed and simultaneously thrusting the rod and releasing the
thumb button 12 to allow the line to pay out freely from the spool
38.
The present invention is directed to the connection of the thumb
button 12 to the reel housing 10. Before doing this, the prior art
connecting structure shown in FIG. 4 will be described in detail,
with reference to FIG. 5.
In FIG. 5, the housing 44 has an integral socket 46 defined by two
spaced, bendable legs 48, 50 which cooperatively define a curved
seat 52 for a pin 54 on the thumb button 12'. The pin 54 has a
curved outer surface 56 which is guided in rotation against the
seat 52.
Preferably, there is a pin 54 projecting laterally oppositely in
cantilever fashion from each side of the thumb button 12'. The pins
54 are forcibly directed through a restricted entryway 58 defined
between adjacent free ends 60, 62 on the legs 48, 50, respectively.
Once the pins 54 are fully seated, the memory in the legs 48, 50
restricts the entryway 58 to captively maintain the pins 54 in
their operative positions.
If the pins 54 are exactly conforming to the seats 52, there is a
substantial amount of friction generated which inhibits pivoting of
the thumb button 12', which is undesirable. Normally, a slight
clearance space 64 is defined between the outer pin surface 56 and
the seat 52 to prevent binding. It is thus possible for the pins 54
to shift slightly back and forth into engagement with the seat 52,
which produces an undesirable rattling noise.
According to the invention, and as seen clearly in FIGS. 1, 2 and
3, laterally projecting pins 66, 68 are provided on the thumb
button 12 to project laterally oppositely therefrom. Each pin 66,
68 nests in a curved seat 70 having an effective diameter that is
slightly larger than the diameter of the generally cylindrical,
outer surface 72 of each pin body 73. Each pin 66, 68 is directed
through a restricted entryway 74 defined between spaced legs 76,
78. The entryway 74 has a width that is less than the diameter of
the pin body 73.
According to the invention, a projection/flexible fin 80 is
provided radially outwardly from at least one, and preferably both,
of the pins 66, 68. The projection/flexible fin 80 has a free end
82 which increases the effective diameter of the pin body 73. That
is, the free end 82 of the projection/flexible fin 80 urges the
diametrically opposite portion of the pin outer surface 72 against
the legs 76, 78, to effectively take up clearance between the legs
76, 78 and the pins 66, 68, and thereby avoid rattling during
operation.
The advantage of the projections/flexible fins 80 is that they
virtually eliminate rattling without requiring exact conformity
between the pin outer surface 72 and the cooperating seat 70. This
obviates the need for precise relative dimensioning of the pins 66,
68 and the curved seats 70. As the pins 66, 68 pivot, the
projections/flexible fins 80 can bend/deflect readily to conform to
and sweep against the seat 70.
In a preferred form, the projection 80 is integrally formed with
the pins 66, 68. The preferred method of manufacture is a molding
process wherein the thumb button 12, pins 66, 68, and
projections/flexible fins 80 are formed in one piece. In a
preferred form, the projections/flexible fins 80, in cross section,
are generally rectangular in shape.
The foregoing disclosure of specific embodiments is intended to be
illustrative of the broad concepts comprehended by the
invention.
* * * * *